Prophet’s
Mosque has rejected accusations
that Zamzam here is being mixed
with normal water. He said the
reports to that affect are
completely “unfounded.”

Ibrahim Bin Mayed Al-Harbi,
Director of Maintenance and
Water at the Prophet’s Mosque,
was reacting to rumors that
water is being added to
shipments coming to Madina from
Makkah.

He said it was not possible for
this to happen. Zamzam water
passes through a number of
stages to make it fit for human
consumption, before being
shipped to the Prophet’s Mosque.

He said
the shipped water is sterilized
using ultraviolet rays. Samples
are examined at a laboratory to
make sure that it is free from
any harmful bacteria and
conforms to health
specifications.

Apart from this, he said samples
of Zamzam water are also taken
from different sites, including
pumping and distribution
stations.

Random samples are also taken
from water coolers. All these
samples are thoroughly examined
at the quality control
laboratory to ensure that it is
fit for human consumption and
not contaminated or mixed with
normal water.

He said
the administration at the Prophet’s
Mosque provides 220 tons of
Zamzam water, in more than
12,000 water coolers,
to worshippers on a daily basis.
In addition, more than one
million disposable plastic cups
are provided every day at the
mosque.

He said the water tanks used to
load the Zamzam water are
sterilized and fumigated before
transportation takes place from
Makkah to Madina. When the water
tanks arrive in Madina, samples
are again taken to ensure its
safety.

The Zamzam is then pumped into
underground tanks. These tanks
are cooled and sterilized, so
this proves that there is little
chance of the water being mixed
or contaminated.

He said
surplus Zamzam water is
distributed to citizens and
visitors. A special area is
prepared for the distribution of
Zamzam water at Al-Sabeel.